Third ESC is about to embark on an historic mission of safely recovering and returning military equipment from 12 years of war, transferring and closing bases, all while providing sustainment to those still in the area of operations. The CTE is one of the final training landmarks on 3rd ESC’s road to war.

“The purpose is to simulate what the soldiers will actually do in Afghanistan, by creating the same atmosphere and situations they will see downrange,” said 3rd ESC G4 Assistant Chief of Staff Lt. Col. Erik Jablonski.

“It’s realistic and stressful, because they are throwing things at us that we didn’t encounter in previous exercises,” said Jablonski.

Col. J.P. Silverstein, chief of Operations Group Sierra, from Fort Leavenworth’s Mission Command Training Program, said the CTE simulated what will be a historic mission for 3rd ESC.

“The mission is not only historic because they are closing out Afghanistan, it is historically challenging, because Afghanistan is landlocked, with high elevation, limited lines of communication, and seasonal weather extremes, from harsh winters, to dust storms and flooding,” Silverstein said.

Silverstein said the exercise was designed to reflect these difficulties, and that 3rd ESC rose to the challenge.

“Third ESC is a phenomenal, aggressive unit. The scenarios are complex and multi-dimensional. Everything MCTP has thrown at them they (3rd ESC) have attacked with vigor. Most importantly, it is obvious they were prepared for this exercise,” Silverstein said.

“Third ESC senior staff has had a 50 or 60 percent turnover due to retirements, changes of station ... and this was the first time we were really able to gel and to come together and put together some great products in order to go forward and deploy,” Bell said.

As the AAR concluded, 3rd ESC’s commander, Brig. Gen. Flem B. “Donnie” Walker Jr., expressed his confidence to the soldiers, “I have trust in all of you to perform the mission at hand.”